More Benefits from Creative Hobbies Like Knitting

A couple of new stories have come out recently about how great knitting and other creative hobbies can be for our health and our life.

A study from San Fransisco State University found that creative hobbies of any sort caused people to be better problem solvers at work. Researchers said they thought the freedom of self-expression that creative hobbies played a role in helping people be more flexible and creative at work as well.

And a story in the Washington Post looks at a lot of benefits of knitting and other hobbies, noting that most crafters say they feel happier after a session with the needles and says that studies have shown creative hobbies to be stimulating for the mind, reducing the risk of cognitive decline.

They also reduce the effects of stress, can be used to help people with motor issues like those caused by Parkinson’s disease, and may even be beneficial as a treatment for eating disorders.

While it can’t really be studied, most of us know the sense of pride and accomplishment that comes from a successful knitting session, which certainly carries over into making us feel capable of doing other things we might at first think of as difficult.

I’d love to hear your stories about how knitting makes you feel healthier, more accomplished, whatever. And don’t let anyone tell you not to pick up your needles!

As we get into the part of the year with a lot of food-forward holidays, it might be time to start thinking about knitting some new things for your table. While a few of these are more fall/Thanksgiving focused, just changing up the colors would make others work for Christmas, or keep it neutral and use them all year long.

What got me started thinking about this was the lovely and simple Fresh Bread Dishtowel, a free pattern from Purl Soho. Worked in a lovely cotton and linen blend, the towel is mostly stockinette stitch with a bit of texture on the borders.

You could use this same kind of pattern to make anything from placemats to a table runner, but let’s look at some specific patterns for those kinds of projects as well.

The easy moss stitch table runner from Glass Bird Knits is beginner friendly can can easily be modified to fit your table (or, again, to make placemats instead of or in addition to a runner). This version is worked in macrame cord, but you could also use bulky yarn.

Emielle Design has a garter stitch runner pattern that’s made with braided cotton cord for a lot of texture without a lot of work. But be sure to take a lot of breaks when knitting with cord because it can be rough on your hands!

I also love the diamond pattern on the Hamilton Table Runner from Wyndlestraw Designs. It calls for a DK weight cotton and linen blend yarn and comes in three sizes with different widths and lengths. The pattern has both written and charted instructions.

Amy Marie’s Table Pumpkins (on Ravelry) is a fun mosaic knitting pattern that would be great to use as a table runner through the fall and for Thanksgiving. It uses a worsted weight cotton yarn in two colors, and you can make it as long as you like for your table.

The no cable knit placemats from Yarn Culture Studio have a fun faux cable look that would be great for the table through the fall and winter.

Or here’s another pattern from Wyndlestraw Designs, this time for an easy knit and purl stitch placemat pattern that looks different but still good on both sides. It calls for worsted weight cotton and comes in two sizes for placemats, but also has instructions for coasters, a hot pad and a table pad all using the same stitch.

Have you read?